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1996 SESSION

963192144
HOUSE BILL NO. 116
Offered January 10, 1996
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.2, relating to possessing or carrying a dangerous weapon in certain county facilities; penalty.
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Patrons-- Almand, Connally, Darner, Plum, Scott and Watts
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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.2 as follows:

§ 18.2-283.2. Possessing or carrying dangerous weapons into certain local government facilities; penalty.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15.1-29.15, the governing body of any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government may, by ordinance, make it unlawful for any person to possess a dangerous weapon in a county facility or to transport a dangerous weapon into a county facility. Notice of any such ordinance shall be posted at each public entrance to each county facility that is within the scope of any such ordinance. A violation of such an ordinance shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and upon conviction, any weapon seized shall be forfeited to the county and disposed of in accordance with law.

For the purposes of this section, the term "county facility" means any building or part thereof that is owned, leased or managed by the county government and that is not excluded by the terms of any such ordinance For the purposes of this section, the term "dangerous weapon" means: (i) any gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) any frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile or ammunition designed for use with any gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; or (iii) any explosive, taser, stun weapon, knife or other weapon specified in subsection A of § 18.2-308, except that this term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2.5 inches in length.

No such ordinance shall apply to the following individuals who are carrying dangerous weapons while conducting official business: (i) any law-enforcement officer, as defined by § 9-169; (ii) any game warden, animal warden or deputy animal warden; (iii) any special police officer; or (iv) any magistrate, court officer or judge. Nothing in any such ordinance shall affect § 18.2-283.1.